An expert says the current monkeypox outbreak is "unusual" as it is transmitted primarily by sex.
Monkeypox has made its way into 14 countries, with world leaders warning people to be concerned about the virus.
Belgium has introduced a compulsory three-week quarantine for cases, as new cases are being detected across the world every day - including Australia.
Associate Professor of Medicine and Infectious Diseases Physician at the Australian National University Sanjaya Senanayake told Newshub Live at 8pm host Rebecca Wright data emerging has shown the virus differs from monkeypox infections commonly found in Africa.
Prof Senanayake said monkeypox transmission from human to human is not common, but when it does occur it is commonly by an individual coming into contact with an infectious person's lesions on their body, clothes or linen.
"But with this we're hearing data that it is transmitted primarily by sex and there is a lot of genital lesions rather than lesions elsewhere on the body which is unusual, suggesting the virus has changed," Prof Senanayake said.
He warns people having intimate contact with multiple people to be on high alert.
The illness has two phases, he said.
The virus has a seven to 17 day incubation period before infected people get a flu-like illness that lasts around five days. After the flu symptoms are over a rash then appears on the infected person's body.
Prof Senanayake said the rash usually starts on the face and moves down the body, but in this outbreak, it seems like the rash is mainly in the genital area.
While the World Health Organisation (WHO) said there is no evidence the monkeypox virus has mutated, it found many of the people diagnosed in the current monkeypox outbreak have been men who have sex with men.
WHO is urging asking dermatology and primary healthcare clinics, as well as sexual health clinics, to be alert to potential cases.
"There are ways we can work with communities to learn from decades of experience around tackling stigma and discrimination with HIV. We want to apply those lessons learned to this experience," strategies adviser at the Department of Global HIV, Hepatitis and STI Programmes at the WHO Andy Seale said.
Health experts are expecting more monkeypox cases to be identified as surveillance expands and there are investigations around the world looking into the sexual transmission of the virus.
